Anyone who has finished the drama The First Jasmine (莫离) knows the result: the Princess of Lingyun (凌云) is truly gone. She was the one who dared to place her own father under house arrest and then prop up her younger brother to seize the throne. For such a formidable woman, her exit felt far too careless and abrupt. Many viewers felt that her character simply collapsed in that final moment.
However, only upon a second viewing does the story reveal why this powerful princess could be taken down so easily. The answer was never hidden in a grand conspiracy or a last-minute betrayal. It was always there, quietly embedded in that small, double-sided “Luck” plaque given to her by the man she loved. It was a joke that exposed the biggest crack in her armor.
The Plaque’s Hidden Truth
After the princess’s death, fans obsessively studied the plaque for clues. They pointed at the crack on it or the bloodstain that appeared after she was stabbed. It was an attempt to prove that she must have faked her death. How could someone so brilliant and politically astute be killed so easily? Yet, the reality is as straightforward as it appears on screen. Her fate was unknowingly written into that very plaque from the beginning. The heirloom was a gift from Feng Zhiyao (凤之遥), crafted solely to make her happy. He carved the character for “Luck” on both sides, suggesting that only good fortune awaited her.
This careful act reveals a deep human flaw: we often choose to shield our eyes from the potential for disaster. Feng calculated her wealth and her love life, but he deliberately skipped the possibility of an accident. It is a form of superstition, but also a form of denial. We automatically shut out the thoughts that terrify us. He would later blame himself for this oversight, believing that if he had not made a joke out of it, he might have performed a proper reading and given her a warning. But because it was just a playful gift, no one, least of all the princess, treated it as an omen. The show seems to suggest that some events are fixed by a force beyond comprehension, and no lucky charm can alter them.
Love’s Blind Trust
The plaque itself was just a piece of jade, but for Lingyun, it represented everything. She did not trust the object itself, but rather the man who gave it to her. In her eyes, wherever Feng Zhiyao was, good fortune followed. This belief was forged in her darkest hour in Cangbei (仓北), when she was at her most vulnerable and helpless. Meeting a good man there, one who helped her survive, cemented this trust. She carried the plaque as if she were carrying his luck, and it made her fearless. This absolute confidence was her greatest strength, but also the exact crack that her enemies would exploit. She never thought to look for danger anymore.
So, when Su Zuidie’s (苏醉蝶) ally, Ye Li (叶璃), suddenly extended an invitation, Lingyun’s mind went only to the positive. She remembered Ye Li’s previous formidable actions, but instead of suspicion, she saw potential for a beneficial arrangement. It was her belief in her own good fortune that blinded her. The most telling sign was that the very moment she received this invitation, her demeanor toward Su Zuidie shifted from strict punishment to a gentle offer to join her. She was so wrapped up in her feelings for Feng that she never saw the very obvious trap. Her heart was full of love, leaving no room for caution.
A Warning for Fans
The most compelling evidence that her death was not a strategy is her reaction to the plaque’s crack. Viewers wanted to believe she saw the damage and was playing a long game, turning the tables on her assassins. But her eyes held only distress when she noticed that crack. Why was her precious token damaged? She was a princess who could have anything, yet this cheap piece of jade meant the world to her. It was the only proof she needed of Feng’s affection. This is why she failed to notice that the plaque had been tampered with. Her love for him created a blind spot so large that it blocked out all details of her surroundings.
This is the tragedy of Lingyun’s character. Her downfall was not a weakness of the writers; it was the logical conclusion of a woman who was so strong in every external aspect that she forgot to guard her heart. Her love gave her joy, but it also stripped her of the sharp judgment that had kept her alive for so long. It allowed someone as seemingly minor as Su Zuidie to exploit her vulnerability successfully. In the end, the princess’s death is a brutal cautionary tale. It shows us that power, strategy, and political cunning are no match for a love that makes you feel invincible. The “luck” plaque was not a predictor of fate, but a mirror reflecting her devotion and, ultimately, her downfall.